US Mission Geneva

The Importance of a Free Internet to the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights

In an age when people and diseases cross borders with growing ease, bioweapons are a transnational threat, and the United States is taking steps to protect against them with transnational action. Along the margins of the BWC Review Conference, the U.S. Delegation hosted three events that provided an overview of the U.S. approach to several critical BWC areas.

Hand in hand with the South African mission, Mission Geneva welcomed nearly 100 guests on December 1 to a preview screening of the South African film “Otelo Burning” and dinner. The International Federation of Film Producers Associations generously sponsored the event. Timed to coincide with the Preparatory Committee meeting for the Diplomatic Conference for the Protection of Audio Visual Performances, the co-hosted evening also celebrated the music of “Mama Africa” Miriam Makeba and South African works of art.

In recognition of Human Rights Day, Secretary Clinton will deliver a human rights policy speech on Tuesday, December 6, hosted by the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Amb Donahoe: This report amplifies an already growing chorus of international condemnation and call for action. It is clear to anyone who reads it that Assad’s unwillingness to end his regime’s violence is taking Syria down a very dangerous path despite efforts led by the Syrian people to start a peaceful transition to democracy.

The protocol would have led to the immediate prohibition of many millions of cluster munitions; placed the remaining cluster munitions under a detailed set of restrictions and regulations; and subjected member states to a detailed list of additional obligations on issues such as clearance, transparency and destruction, all of which would have led to a substantial humanitarian impact on the ground.

Medical Musical Group (MMG) is a chorale and orchestra group comprised of medical professionals, who have performed in London, Berlin and Paris in recent years as part of their “Healing for the Nations” concert series.

This week, we celebrate the remarkable everyday successes of our entrepreneurs and innovators. Together, we can unleash technologies that will shape the 21st century and create a world where men and women can take a chance on a dream – an idea that starts around a kitchen table or in a garage – and turn it into a new business, or even an industry, that can change the world.

Celebrating the International Year for People of African Descent is especially important for Americans, as you might imagine. African Americans make up the single largest racial minority in the United States, at nearly 40 million of our citizens, and the contributions of this segment of our society are notable and many– of course we see some here today in art and literature.